The School of Realistic Philosophy and Moral Government Theology

Introducing,

The School

Realistic Philosophy and

Moral Government Theology.

Reconciling the Truth with the Mind, Heart, Life and World.

A School for Real Individuals.

And this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not do the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1: 5-7.

Email: TruthInHeart at hotmail.com

Contents

Purpose,
Inspiration,
Focus,
Justification for Foundation,
Perspective,
Present Concern,
Ministry History,
Associated Projects:

Mission Museum of Philosophical and Theological Systems,

Charles G. Finney Complete Works,

Asa Mahan Complete Works,

James Barr Walker Complete Works,

The Complete Bible Commentaries of Henry Cowles,

Various individual Moral Government and Commonsense Realism Works,

Including the following periodicals,

The Oberlin Evangelist,

The Oberlin Quarterly Review,

Divine Life and International Expositor of Scriptural Holiness,

Alethea In Heart Professional Printing House,

The School Manual Labor Operation,

American Reformation Project,

Home school and family values Project,

Health Reformation Project,

Volunteers and Students,
The Means,
Motivation and Spiritual Method of Study,

Purpose:

The education of students in all departments of their being by learning the facts of the external and internal universe, and seeking to know and live consistently with the revealed laws of God. To facilitate such learning by whatever means practical and suitable. To create a natural environment in which God-fearing persons may interact with one another for the promotion of spiritual and intellectual development. To provide local and distant help to all who are earnest researchers seeking to be reformers in their generation. To learn from the present and past in order to improve on the present and future. To know how to live as God would have us in our day. This is not to be a political or sectarian movement.

Inspiration:

Jean Frederic Oberlin (1740-1826) was an exemplary reformer and missionary in France. His work partly inspired the founders of Oberlin College and Charles Finney to start a formal institution of learning for reformation in their day. The details of his life are found in his biography. The proposal for this school, selecting what was seen to be good while avoiding what history has shown to be less productive, is partly modeled after Jean Oberlin's work, Early Oberlin College (1833-1850) and many other schools in America, various kinds of mentoring methods used throughout history, several schools of apologetics, some of the ancient methods of organized education, and the structuring of the early church in bible study and discipleship. RPMGT does not have any dependence upon these schools, nor is it to be seen as supportive of any possible unwise or unrighteous practices or teachings from the same. The school will also continue to adapt its methods as circumstances develop to the good methods and teachings of such schools. Teachers from these schools may give lectures and help, but will not necessarily be part of the structure of the school.

Focus:

The study of the facts of the universe as revealed by God in the physical universe and spiritual realm, and as discovered, communicated, and developed by the people of God and the truly wise of this earth. Primary documents of investigation are the Bible, the works of Asa Mahan, Charles Finney, James B. Walker, Henry Cowles, and many other authors of realistic philosophy, and moral government theology and reformation. All of the primary source authors were united in essential gospel agreement, and depended upon basically the same theological and practical means to promote revival and true Christianity. Such authors were sound, intelligent men of deep religious commitment and experience; and were either revivalists, Christian educators, presidents of colleges, or ministers who were deeply involved in promoting reformation in their day. They lived from around 1700 to 1900. Their message was true to Reason, Revelation, Experience, and Grace. We hope to revive those truths of revelation that have always brought revival of God's presence to earnest and sincere people. Wherever these truths are known and believed, there has been a visitation of God. The promotion of such investigations will be with the hope that modern people can also be visited with such a revival of God's presence in conviction of sin, and conversion to righteousness, when we know and believe the truth of the good promises of God.

Secondary sources are the most worthy and influential teachings of past and present history. In order to learn to distinguish the true from the false, the good from the bad, and the expedient from the inexpedient. Continual focus is to be upon the ultimate motives for such research and resulting applications. Special pains are to be taken to avoid the nuisance of mere head knowledge without heart consistency; and counterproductive over-dependence upon authors and teachers.

Wisdom shouts in the streets, she gives her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings; How long, O naive ones will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1: 20-22.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, ponder these things. Philippians 4:8

Justification for Foundation:

"It is common, and as absurd and vain as it is common, to object to Metaphysical discussions in the examination of Theological questions. The fact is that there is no such thing as holding Theological opinions without assuming the truth of some system of Mental Philosophy. Metaphysical Theology is only Bible Theology explained; and to object to Metaphysics in Theology is only to object to the application of Reason in the explanation of the facts of Revealed Theology." Systematic Theology 1846. p. 40.

The Bible and the undeniable revelations of nature will be considered the highest authority. Special efforts will be made to fully develop the reason for this foundation with every student. Nothing is to be assumed without good and sufficient reason.

The moral government writings will be used as primary tools of research because they are seen to be the most accurate and helpful to accomplish these ends. But they also will not be assumed to be true without good and sufficient reason. At no point are students expected to believe an unproven proposition. Such writings are not merely beneficial because they are seen to be mostly true, but because they best help students to think these matters over for themselves. These writings are best adapted to prepare students to research any matter for themselves, especially when they have discovered themselves to be in error and need to start over again. The methods used will be thoroughly examined. Such methods promote the opposite of sectarian thinking, and help persons of all philosophic persuasions to think for themselves, and to respect others for doing the same.

Realistic philosophy or Realism simply treats the facts of the physical universe and immaterial realm as they appear. It rejects prejudiced assumptions and disbelief about any such facts and adopts the commonsense approach to life and reasoning. Moral government theology is Realism in relation to theology. It is also a theology of belief as opposed to one of disbelief of the facts of the external and internal universe. It recognizes God as the Creator, Governor, and Savior of all beings in the physical and spiritual realms. His government pertains to physical and moral laws. The physical laws are different from the moral laws in the same way as necessity differs from free will. Moral government theology does not confuse these different governmental relations of God, as other philosophical and theological systems do, but recognizes the clear differences in the same way as all civilized courts of law do in relation to the affairs of mankind. Rational beings relate to God's moral laws with moral considerations or motives, and their free will is not violated or forced into compliance. Other theological systems only partly agree with this, and in some or many ways confuse the government pertaining to force and necessity with that which pertains to morals and spirituality. The result is confusion or disbelief about some or many relations and facts of existence. Moral government theology seeks to make careful observations and distinctions in these matters and avoid mere dependence upon the traditions and assumptions of pious theologians.

Perspective:

Many of our authors were profound scientists and philosophers. If the above details have not suggested it, our philosophy takes the Realist approach to viewing reality; or what others would call the commonsense approach. It will be taught at this school that all false religions and philosophies do not accept this method (which is the spontaneous practice of the race in times of emergency and in ordinary transactions of life which do not require self-denial); and such false teachers either, 1. Neglect to admit the existence of obvious faculties of the mind and universal facts of nature, or, 2. They assume certain things to exist because they want to, and proceed to build entire systems of thought (which are often logical results from their false premises) upon such desires or superstitions. This does not just take place among non-Christians but also within the professing church. Most of the theological schools today do not train their students carefully in philosophy; and sadly many turn out in part or in whole with the same sort of unrealistic assumptions that support the endlessly conflicting errors in the professing church. We would thus approach nature and the bible realistically (in the same way that everyone would wish to be understood by others), and historically, not allegorically (supposing what we desire to be behind the words and facts), mystically (spiritualizing to the point of contradiction), selfishly (neglecting its full application and making it consistent with sinful living), or legalistically (neglecting to realize its various modes of expression, or graded commandments, which sometimes are circumstantial). We understand that God has given us two major revelations: the light of nature (natural revelation), and the written Word of God (special revelation). We see that they do not conflict, and that the second should in no way be understood to obviously set aside the first—which is the only source we personally have to verify the second (against other opposing claims like the Koran, book of Mormon, etc.). Many false doctrines in the church are owing to the fact that people misuse the bible without using its own revealed method of interpretation, and without due consideration of the same natural revelation which is supposed to lead us to accept this second revelation. It is thus seen that every false theology in the church and world is owning to a false philosophy which people have either received by tradition, indolence, selfishness, or ignorance.

The following Confession would be sympathetic with the school's purpose:

CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE CONGREGATION

AT THE CHURCH OF OBERLIN.

From The Oberlin Evangelist. Vol. VII.... No. 10. Whole No. 166. New Series, Vol. II. No. 10. Page 80. May 7, 1845. The introduction is also from O.E.

"We publish this document by special request. It was the intention of its framers that it should include only the fundamental doctrines of the gospel—those which all real christians do in fact believe, because they are incorporated into the very flesh and blood of the christian life. The 8th article respects the gospel ordinances and the christian Sabbath. These institutions were thought to be of great, if not indispensable value to the prosperity of the visible church, though the belief of them may not be essential to the evidences of personal piety. With this exception, it is held that a creed should aim to comprise precisely the fundamental doctrines of the gospel—all these and no others. We rest this position on the obvious ground that in no other way can we hope to prevent the manifold and great evils of sectarianism. A church on this ground opens its doors equally to all christians, and shuts them against all others. All real christians and none others believe, love, and practice the fundamental doctrines of the gospel system. ED.

CONFESSION OF FAITH.

Article 1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

Article 2. We believe in one God—the Creator and Ruler of the Universe, existing in a divine and incomprehensible Trinity—the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost—each possessing all divine perfections.

Article 3. We believe in the fall of our first parents, and the consequent entire apostacy, depravity, and lost condition of the human race.

Article 4. We believe in the incarnation, death, and Atonement, of the Son of God; and that salvation is attained only through repentance and faith in his blood.

Article 5. We believe in the necessity of a radical change of heart, and that this is effected through the truth, by the agency of the Holy Ghost.

Article 6. We believe that the moral law is binding on all mankind as the rule of life, and that obedience to it is the proper evidence of a saving change.

Article 7. We believe that credible evidence of a change of heart, is an indispensable ground of admission to the privileges of the visible church.

Article 8. We believe that the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, together with the Christian Sabbath, are of perpetual obligation in the church.

Article 9. We believe in a future Judgment, the endless happiness of the righteous, and the endless misery of the wicked."

Present Concern:

We rejoice with the goodness of God in the salvation of many in all ages. But we have come to see that the kingdom of heaven will not advance until the professed church of Christ is holy; only then will it be properly effective in reaching the world and accomplishing God's will. The majority of the professing church today is not holy, and cannot honestly and accurately reason about important matters, or be a witness to this lost generation. The conscientious in our day are often at a loss to find suitable schools, churches, or means to collectively and righteously advance God's kingdom and promote reformation. This school will attempt to meet a small part of that great need in our day. It will not replace the local church and natural family life as other schools and organizations so often do.

This school will not promote the Limited foreknowledge or Open View of God theory, or that which supposes God is not infinite in His nature, or all-knowing of future choices of free creatures. Moral government theology was never dependent upon or related to such theories. The present blending of these differing ideas in people's minds is seen to be a distraction from the original understanding and focus of moral government theology. This is not to say that the school will close its doors to those who believe the limited foreknowledge view; but just that it will not be known as such a school. The gospel will be the primary focus, and secondary matters which good people have divided over will be gently considered.

Ministry History:

This ministry grew out of making available to earnest souls preparing for ministry and reformation rare resources gathered over twelve years. At first only basic photocopies were available to so furnish people with good spiritual material. But when the general need to get these books out became more apparent, better copies of originals were made and the work of retyping them began. Eventually a catalogue was requested for the Internet and the books that were being typed for other CD's were posted online. Books and booklets were eventually printed and published as requests increased. As of April 2003, Alethea In Heart Ministries transferred to larger facilities in order to meet growing demands. The present priority is to insure the highest quality of work for the various active projects. Some of the below projects are underway and being partially or fully sponsored. The establishment, depth, growth, and success of the school will depend upon how much support is given, and the quality of the volunteers.

Associated Projects (outlined):

Mission Museum of Philosophical and Theological Systems: MPTS

The ongoing physical construction of a museum of philosophical (and theological) systems as outlined in Asa Mahan's A Critical History of Philosophy, and the viewing of such project through other mediums such as the World Wide Web, for assisting students in learning by independent construction of personal research, teaching, and evangelism, and for reaching out to all persons that could be benefited by such influence. The museum would be a physical presentation of all the various systems of philosophy: their stated and implied theories, their origin and history, their resulting impact upon the authors and the world, and a comparison with, and contrast to, what is believed to be the true and realistic system as revealed by God. A separate presentation of the true system will also be constructed. This museum will differ from Mahan's above proposal in producing a more positive effect upon the viewers (while retaining the effects originally sought), and offering more studies of Christian evidences. A history of Christian apologetics and theology (as well as cults) will also be added. Such a museum would encourage serious dialogue between those seeking to learn of the correct system and ultimate truth with others who attempt to present it both in word and deed. Respect and humility will be insisted upon as a condition for participation. Constant reminders of the fact that all humans believe their own belief excludes all other beliefs as the only correct philosophy, will be given so as to remove the frequent offense felt by those confronted by the true Christian world view. Other undeniable self-evident principles needed to help further the ends of this mission will also be frequently displayed. This mission will also give employment to students perusing education with RPMGT.

Charles G. Finney Complete Works:

Professional reproduction of the complete published and unpublished writings in hard and soft covers (as well as biographies). These available in a complete 21 volume series and individually. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording on tapes, CDs and DVDs. Select sermons (of the 400 available) also to be grouped into various topics and individually published as devotional reading. Each sermon and lecture to be made available as individual tracts and booklets. Parts of The Oberlin Evangelist and Oberlin Quarterly Review included in this.

Work books and various helps (multimedia as well) to be created to assist in the private or classroom study of the volumes. A focus on the influence of this individual upon the church and world to be presented in conjunction with the American Reformation Project.

Asa Mahan Complete Works:

Professional reproduction of the complete published and unpublished writings in hard and soft covers (as well as the biography). These available in a complete 21 volume series and individually. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording on tapes, CDs and DVDs. Each sermon and lecture to be made available as individual tracts and booklets. Parts of The Oberlin Evangelist, Oberlin Quarterly Review, and Divine Life included in this.

John Fletcher Complete Works:

Professional reproduction of the complete published writings in hard and soft covers. These available in a complete series and individually. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording.

Work books and various helps (multimedia as well) to be created to assist in the private or classroom study of the volumes.

James Barr Walker Complete Works:

Professional reproduction of the complete published writings (four or five volumes) in hard and soft covers. These available in a complete series and individually. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording on tapes, CDs and DVDs.

Work books and various helps (multimedia as well) to be created to assist in the private or classroom study of the volumes.

The Works and Complete Bible Commentaries of Henry Cowles:

Professional reproduction of the 16 volumes covering the entire Bible in both hard and soft covers. These available in a complete series and individually. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording on tapes, CDs and DVDs.

Work books and various helps (multimedia as well) to be created to assist in the private or classroom study of the volumes.

Various individual Moral Government and Commonsense Realism Works,

(hundreds of individual works)

Including the following periodicals:

The Oberlin Evangelist:

Bimonthly covering the years 1839 to 1862. Professional reproduction of the entire series in both hard and soft covers. These available in a complete series and as individual issues. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording.

The Oberlin Quarterly Review:

Four volumes of quarterly issues covering the years 1846 to 1849. Professional reproduction in both hard and soft covers. These available in a complete series and as individual issues. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording.

Divine Life and International Expositor of Scriptural Holiness:

Monthly issues years spanning 1878 to 1889. Bound as yearly volumes of monthly issues. Professional reproduction in both hard and soft covers. These available in a complete series and as individual booklet issues. These made available online and on CD as well, as fully searchable. Also eventually read for digital audio recording.

Alethea In Heart Professional Printing House:

Enlarging the printing operations to produce high speed digital printing on demand. Professional entire-process case binding capabilities (hard cover production). To fulfill the entire printing needs of the school and all related projects. To provide work for students needing to support themselves. To provide ministry opportunity for students.

The School Manual Labor Operation:

Providing employment to support study. Employers to teach work and business ethics along with giving well-rounded spiritual and scientific direction in the particular area of operation. The printing house, museum, and various other complete works projects as under this operation. But employment contracts to be with private individuals only.

American Reformation Project:

To study how reformation was promoted and hindered in the modern western world, and to seek to promote the same means through educating and evangelizing the western world. Special pains taken to avoid becoming a political movement by primarily promoting the gospel first, and all other issues as secondary applications resulting from heart reformation. The specific exposure of the evils of vigilantism, party politics, unspiritual and off-balanced reformation will be abundantly promoted.

Various other world mission projects can also be considered, or result from this.

Home school and family values Project:

The publishing and gathering of quality materials to help children and families fulfill the callings God has for them in this day. Some of the books will be from the above projects. Audio and video helps will also be gathered and promoted. Meetings and camp meetings will be organized for spiritual and educational direction and encouragement. Special focus will be given to the study of schooling in 19th century America and other notable places and periods.

Health Reformation Project:

Publishing classic works on health related subjects. Promoting temperance while helping individuals escape the evils of unhealthy lifestyles and diets. Organizing meetings and seminars for such ends. Encouraging families to manufacture healthy products, and to live more independently (in relation to their health, finances, family and business needs).

Volunteers and Students:

Students, teachers, coordinators, managers, advisors, supporters, etc., may assist with varying commitments, either locally or afar. Lecturers will be invited for long-term, short-term, occasional, or momentary ventures in any convenient location. Group field trips will be organized at any convenient location in America or around the world, to study the facts of the universe, listen to notable speakers, or to promote the legitimate purposes of this school. Each student is to be understood as a unique individual, needing not just a common education that is given to all persons, but is to be encouraged and mentored according to their own personal needs. All pains are to be taken to avoid the manifest error of the common schools in rushing an education where the individual has no time to be personally developed as needed, and where they are not able to study the most pertinent subjects presently pressed upon them by providence, and at their own pace. Students will be expected to contribute as they can, even as the most important outcome of all education is that such persons learn to treat things and others as they ought to be treated. And as one of the foundational principles of this school is that 'it is better to give than to receive', or that all receiving is for the purpose of giving, all study will be considered a fundamental failure which does not lead such students to freely give as they have received. This school is not to promote colonies or too closely associated communities that discourage private life and property, etc. It is not to take the place of church fellowship, membership, and personal ministry that God has called each one of us to. One of the purposes of the school is to not create a massive ministry in which others have to fall in with, but to facilitate a way in which individuals may exercise their own gifts, and fulfill their own callings. In this way it will be considered more of a friendly network of ministries than a legally connected body. Small groups in homes are to be the main places of regular study and lectures so as to avoid the near universal evils in big organization and gatherings, and to avoid raising unnecessary facilities, spending, and organization. Large gatherings and visits to formal institutions will be occasional. The size of the individual units or cell groups will need to be small enough in order to not loose track of the mission and create some contrary movement. Only small cell groups will promote the kind of academic, spiritual, and mentoring goals of this school. The teachers and lecturers and various contributors are not to be considered as necessarily in a spiritual partnership with the managers and directors of this mission. Such will either volunteer some of their time, or will be hired to fulfill a given purpose. The school is to be flexible enough to listen to lecturers of various beliefs without having to endorse all or any of their beliefs. However, mentors, spiritual advisors, and students will be expected to sympathize with this mission outline. The school is to be flexible to the situations at hand and honor all that may help, but never to undermine the mission, or give appearance of sanctioning any sinful attitudes or practices of any that may contribute to it. Students may be given a questionnaire and testing before beginning in order to determine if this school is suitable for them; or to learn where to begin with them. However, the school will not be limited to the cell group gatherings, but can be used by any person by using the materials that are made available through Alethea In Heart Ministries. Professors in the regular schools have used these materials in their schools, and thousands of students and religious leaders have studied them for their own education. Thus it is hoped that anyone may benefit from this mission. This school will not be credited, or grant titles or grades to persons. It is not to be molded or influenced by the government, nor to be a political institution. It is to be less formal than the regular schools, and of a private nature. It is not to be a legally united body of students, mentors, and leaders, but to consist of no more than commitments made by friends (although when visiting lecturers are hired, they will be expected to deliver what they are paid for). And the only way to ensure that it also remains true to its mission is for the designated managers and organizers to have the ability to dissolve any relations that are seen to be inconsistent with the school's mission or Christian fellowship. It will thus have no more legal responsibility between members than a given church has. It is not to be secretive, or to partake in any form of lying or deception. But is to be organized and participated in like bible study gatherings. Various projects like the museum may take on more formal and legal relationships, but the school itself is to remain in structure much like voluntary bible study gatherings.

The Means:

Sponsorship, coordination, and direction is primarily given by Alethea In Heart Ministries through the Truth In Heart web sites. Such will also provide the needed curriculum. Future developments may occasion other primary sponsorship and direction. Other contributors necessary to accomplish the ends of this mission will assist with the above roles, and will provide help in teaching, building, working in many stations, donating, giving legal and spiritual advice, etc. The curriculum is partly completed, the study plan is only generally outlined, the general plan for the school is above drafted, the need is abundantly requested, the ability elsewhere to fulfill such need is manifestly lacking, the financial means are not yet met, the organization is not yet begun, little commitment is yet guaranteed. But we will continue to work towards this calling and trust God to provide the means to do His will. The school has begun in the broader sense mentioned above.

Motivation and Spiritual Method of Study:

"Take care that you keep your hearts with all diligence, and that your hearts keep pace with your intellectual improvement. If you do not make a self-application of the truth as fast as you learn it, if you do not obey it, it will ultimately blind instead of enlighten you. You must live up to your convictions, or the study of theology will greatly and fatally harden you. Therefore be careful that you grieve not, resist not, quench not the Holy Spirit. Study on your knees. Go to God with every position that is established, and pray him to write the truth in your heart; and rest not till it be adopted by you as your own, as a truth to influence you, to have dominion over you; and as these truths are developed in your intellect one after the other, and established, let it be settled that in the midst of them, and in conformity with them, you are to live and move and have your being.

"If you do this the study of theology will make you a mellow, anointed, devoted, useful man of God; if you do it not, you will become hardened and reprobate. And of all the reprobate minds in existence, they seem to be the most hardened who have studied theology and gone through the course of theology without receiving the truth into their hearts. Every truth that lodges in the head and does not take possession of the heart, is to the student "the savor of death unto death." As you value your own souls, therefore, as you value your influence, as you value the cause of God, let it be settled that with much prayer and the utmost honesty and effort you will make every truth of theology your own, not only in the sense of mastering it with your intellect, but of embracing and obeying it in your heart.

Charles G. Finney (Lectures on Theology)

Let us know how you would like to be involved. Or let us know if you would like to be put on a private fellowship finder list of persons that are basically sympathetic to the above theology and goals:

Jan, 2005
Alethea In Heart
PO BOX 667
Post Falls, ID 83877
208- 304-2954

Email: TruthInHeart at hotmail.com